10,000 Foot Developer

This kept coming up from several of my colleagues at my current gig, at some other sites and then touched me this week.

Its, working without a mission.  Or a work statement.

If you read some management sites, or about human nature in general, human nature seems to be motivated on the need to be doing something meaningful.  In fact, I read somewhere that a lot of people leave the place they work if it becomes empty and meaningless; even money can’t keep people there.

My personal feeling on this is that we only have so much time on this planet and if we can spend that time doing what we like that is the best case.  We all have to do some drudging things, but working exclusively for a paycheck with no joy of work or minimally the people we spend over 40 hours a week with breaking bread for lunch is empty and a sure path to unhappiness.  And I don’t know about you, but I work best when engaged and happy with satisfying work.

So a lot of us have been discussing that we consult or contract and very little do we ever get a mission statement or anything that’s expected of us.  It’s terrible.  Its stressful.  It leaves any evaluation of us to be based on other things other than our actual performance because there can be NO ACCOUNTABILITY if there is no work statement.

Since I am at that experience level where I get to mentor and manage I have to know some things that motivate people.  Personally I like empowered people who like their work and are responsible, and know that I am backing them too.  Though I am also a developer and prefer that, plus the management stuff.  Why not?

Very few modern managers seem to understand this.  They pull these kinds of shenanigans like never answering emails, or committing to nothing, verbal non-committal communication only.    Things become very gray for an employee and in these situations and the only feedback they get is bad, never good.  It’s like walking on a ledge in the dark: as long as you step right its good, but you can’t see where you are going, and pretty soon BAM!!

Here’s how I approach these situations:

• I ask for things in emails or writing.  If I get no answers, I have the emails as an audit.
• I play the game as long as I can but then I have to draw back and read the rest of the team as to what we all are supposed to be doing.
• I make myself credible and accountable and set an example.  Always.
• I try not to talk about it to a colleague unless I trust the person a LOT.

This situation is corporate waste and LIFE waste; unfortunately its not avoidable in all situations.  Its political, and life is political because power is involved at work.

But rest assured many of us out here understand.   Code and have fun when you can and don’t sweat the rest.  Create a daily mission for yourself and you’ll get through.